Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
The independent-label debut that introduced Vic Rattlehead and brought major-label interest.
Megadeth, 1985
- Released
- 17 May 1985 (UK), 12 June 1985 (US)
- Recorded
- December 1984 to January 1985
- Studio
- Indigo Ranch, Malibu, and Crystal Sound Labs, Hollywood
- Label
- Combat
- Producer
- Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye
- Length
- 31:10
Combat Records gave the band $8,000 to make its first album. The original producer was fired, Combat added $4,000, and the band finished the recording itself. It was released in the UK by Music for Nations in May 1985 and in the US by Combat in June. Despite its low-fidelity sound it did well in underground metal circles and drew major-label interest. Music writer Joel McIver praised its "blistering technicality".
It includes Mechanix, a song Mustaine wrote before Megadeth existed. He has said the Megadeth version is much faster. The album also has a faster cover of Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walkin', with altered lyrics. Vic Rattlehead first appeared on the cover.
More from Megadeth
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986), So Far, So Good... So What! (1988), Rust in Peace (1990), Countdown to Extinction (1992)
Sources
- Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, Wikipedia
- Megadeth, Wikipedia
- Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs, Rolling Stone